Garden Shopping Trip

[Granny Smith]

I decided to try square foot gardening, so I went to Walmart this afternoon to get the soil stuff I needed. They didn't have cwap, so I got mad and went across the street, to Lowes. They had everything I needed. (I loathe Walmart!)

I also got 3 pots of flat-leaf parsley. I hadn't been able to find that anywhere. Everybody has the curled-leaf, but not the flat. I got another barberry bush and something called 'Heavenly Bamboo'. The only thing I know about it is that it gets red flowers and needs to be someplace where it only gets the morning sun, then is in the shade the rest of the day. I'll do some research tonight, before I plant it.

I also got a small watering can (one that will sprinkle instead of pour), a kid's metal shovel (I liked it because its small), and one of those things you use for planting bulbs. I needed one the other day, when we were planting glads, but didn't have one. Since I plant glads every year, I thought it would be nice to have one.

I got a bag of diatomaceous earth. I don't know what I'll do with it, but it's something I keep reading about uses for, but could never find the stuff. If I need it, I have it now.

I was so exhausted when we got home, I talked Dan into going to get subs for supper. Subway is the only restaurant in town that's open after 3. I think I'm going to bed early tonight. My back is killing me. Tomorrow I build the frames for the square foot garden. I'm going to start with 3 and see how they do.

[meemo]

I've been toying with the idea of getting Henry to build me frames to put along the fence. I'm goin to get some big green tubs to plant some stuff like lettuce and onions but I'd like to put the tomatos in the ground. Seems like they have a better taste that way. I cant believe how having the front yard has changed the dynamics of our daily routine around here.

[Granny Smith]

Dan built the SFG frames for me tonight. I was going to do it, but I was scared of the circular saw. I only asked him for 3, but he had some scrap wood leftover, so he built me another one in an odd size. It won't be for SFG, though. I plan on putting Jerusalem artichokes in it and no lath. In other words, it will just be a raised bed.

Tomorrow, if the weather is nice, we'll be digging out the grass, laying the fabric, making the soil, filling the frames, and cutting and installing the lath. If that doesn't wear me out, we have a bunch of things to plant.

[Granny Smith]

BTW, I said that Heavenly Bamboo got red flowers. That's not true. I was looking at the picture on the tag with my blurry eyes. When I put on my spectacles, I discovered it has white flowers in the summertime, then the leaves turn red and it gets red berries for winter. It doesn't lose its leaves and can withstand temps to -10. The tag said that it needs only morning sun, then should be in shade the rest of the day. The only place I could find that met those criteria was next to the outhouse, so that's where I put it. It'll look better than that pile of milk crates and broken concrete blocks that was there.

[Granny Smith]

Got 3 SFG beds leveled and filled. Now I need to get some lath to make the grid and they'll be all ready to plant.

I need to get more soil 'ingredients' to make the 4th one. We ran out.

Those beds are a lot of work to set up, but that should be almost all the work they'll be. Now it's just the pleasure of watching things grow. (at least that's how it's supposed to work)

[arctichomesteader]

I can't speak for that variety of bamboo, but the bamboo we get here (Vermont) is pretty invasive stuff, it's almost impossible to kill. So plant bamboo in a place where it can be contained (sort of like mint I would guess).

[Granny Smith]

From what I've read, this isn't supposed to be invasive, but, just in case, I planted it out of the backyard, next to the outhouse. If it turns out to be invasive, it can spread pretty far without being any trouble. It seems to be thriving there, putting out new leaves. It gets morning sun, shade during the hottest part of the day, and dappled sunlight in the late afternoon.

[arctichomesteader]

Well, that's good if true. I understand though the kudzu that's a problem in the South was widely planted without knowing it was invasive...

I actually like bamboo but it's a lot of trouble up here...my brother and I when were kids used to cut stalks off and fight each other with them. lol

[Granny Smith]

They actually did know the kudzu was invasive, but thought the cattle would eat it faster than it would spread. (It was planted as cattle feed) Turns out, they were wrong. Now I hear they're fighting it with herds of goats.

I like bamboo, too. Papa had a stand of it in Georgia. We used it to make fishing poles so we could fish in Mr. Suddith's farm pond. We never used it for swordfighting or anything... (sure, we didn't)

[Valerie]

Don't even try, Gayle! Don't even try! We know you were probably beating your sister with it every day!

When we moved to FL from Michigan a million years ago, there was a mango tree in our yard. That's not a rare thing in Sarasota. When they fall off the tree and are overripe they are really gross. We also had a stand of bamboo nearby. We thought it was great fun when Daddy would use a stick of bamboo for a bat and bat those overripe mangoes clear over the houses behind us to the next street. He was aiming for Uncle Roger's house (his twin brother). It was like Babe Ruth hitting a homer when he'd land one right on Uncle Roger's roof!

[Granny Smith]

Apr 28, 2010 8:39:40 GMT -5 Valerie said:

Don't even try, Gayle! Don't even try! We know you were probably beating your sister with it every day!

Me? Beating my sister?!!!



Well...mebbe...